gardiner



(Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2. 0. O. GARDINER.

GRAIN DRILL.- No. 271,445. Patented Jan.30188 3.

WITNESSES N. PEI Ens, vhawum n m. Washinglnn. n. c;

(ModeL) 3- SheetsSheet 3. G. 0. GARDINER.

GRAIN DRILL.

No. 271,445. Patented Jan.30, 1888.

WITNESSES Uivrreo STATES ATENT FFIQE.

CHARLES O. GARDINER, OF SPRINGFIELD, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO P. P. MAST & COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

GRAIN-DRILL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 271,445, dated January 30, 1883.

Application filed March 6, 1882. (ModeL) To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES O. GARDINER, ofSpringfield,in the countyot'Clarkeand State of Ohio, have invented certain Improvements in Grain-Drills and Seeders, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to that common, class of grain-drills or seeding-machines in'which a wheeled frame is provided with drag-bars carryingat their rear ends tubular hoes, by'which the furrows are opened, and through which the seed is deposited from feeding devices located on the under side of a hopper seated upon the frame.

The invention consists in numerous details of construction, which will be hereinafter eX- plained atlength, but relates more particularly to the peculiar construction and arrangement; of thelil'tingdevices, the wheels being mounted loosely upon the axle, and the devices for operating the lifting mechanism secured firmly to the axle.

The invention also consists inconnecting the elastic drag-bars with the rock-shaft, by which they are controlled through the medium of a joint, which allows a limited amount of play to the bars or hoes independently of the rockshat't; also, in the peculiar construction of the coupling devices employed, the construction of the surveyor or indicator, and in other details.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical section through my.machine'on the line 1 1, Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the machine. Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section through the right-hand side of the machine on a line with the main axle, as indicated by the line 2 2, Fig. 2. Fig. 4. is an elevation of the left-hand side of the machine with the driving-wheel removed. Fig. is a vertical section on the line of the main axle through the left-hand side of the machine. Fig. 6 is a vertical section through the lefthand side of the machine on the line 3 3 of Fig. 4, showing the connection between the lifting-bar and the driving-gear of the seed devices. Fig. 7 is alongitudinal vertical section through the center of the feed-hopper, illustrating the driving devices and the surveyor, the t'eedcups, which are of ordinary construction, being omitted. Fig. 8 is a vertical section through the hopper on the line 44 of Fig.

7, showing the surveying mechanism. Fig. 9

is a perspective View, showingaportion of the surveying mechanism detached. Figs. 10 to 18 are detailed views, illustrating the drag-bars and their connections in their various forms.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, A represents the main frame of the machine, which consists of two longitudinal side bars, a, and two crossbars,-b, located one at the front and the other near the middle of the frame. The frame is sustained, 'as usual, by a transverse shaft or axle, B, which is seated and arranged to turn loosely in boxes 0 on the under side of the 6 frame, and provided on its outer projecting ends with the two large ground wheelsO, which revolve freely upon the ends of the axle.

D represents the grain-hopper or seed-box, located upon the extreme rear end of the frame behind the main axle.

E E representthe series of hoes or drillteeth, each attached to a drag-bar or beam, F, the entire series of drag-bars being secured at their forward ends to a rocking bar, G, hinged to the under side of the main frame at its forward end, so that by rocking or turning thev bar the entire series of drag-bars and hoes may be raised or depressed at will, as hereinafter morejully explained.

As a means of rocking the bar G, which is well known in the art as a lifting-bar, I bolt to each end a segmental gear-wheel, I, and secure firmly to the ends of the main axle Within the frame segmental pinions J, arranged to 8 gear into the wheel I, as represented in Figs.

1 and 2. The wheel J, at one end of the ma chine,is provided with a tubular sleeve, loosely encirclingthemain axle and cxtendingthrough its box to the outer side of the frame, where it 90 is keyed or otherwise secured firmly, as represented in Figs.2 and 3, to a plate, (I, having a hand-lever, K, rigidly attached thereto. Up-

on moving the hand-lever it imparts a rotary motion to the main axle B and the pinions J, 5 the latter in turn moving the sector-wheels I and causing the bar G to rock upward and downward, according to the direction in which the lever is moved. In this manner a direct and positive motion is imparted to both ends I00 of the lifting-bar, which may be caused to elevate the drag-bars and hoes or to depress them with any required degree of force.

'As a means of locking the hoes and dragbars in the desired position, a notched rack bar or plate, N, is bolted to the outside of the main frame and the hand-lever provided with a sliding dog,f, arranged to engage therein, the dog being in turn connected by a rod with a latch or lever, g, pivoted to the upper end of the hand-lever, as shown, this arrangement being familiar to all mechanics.

In order that the hoes may be urged downward with a yielding or spring pressure and thus permitted to riscindepetnlently when obstructions are encountered, the drag-bars are made of steel or equivalent elastic material throughout the whole or a portion of their length.

As it is frequently desired to have the hoes rest upon the ground subject to their weight onl v,I introduce between the hoes and thelifting-bar a connecting-joint, by which the hoes are permitted a limited vertical play independently of the bar. This joint may be made of various forms, and may be introduced at any suitable point between the hoe and the rocking bar, either at the forward or rear end of the drag-bar, or at any intermediate point therein. Thejoint thus introduced, while permitting a proper adjustment of the lifting-bar and an independent motion of the hoes, admits of the hoes being lifted positively by giving the bar a sufficient motion, and also of their being depressed positively by giving the bar a sufficieut motion in the opposite direction.

In Fig. 10 it will be seen that the hoe is made of the ordinary runner form with aforwardly-extending arm, which is bolted rigidly to the rear end of the short elastic drag-bar F. The forward end of the drag-bar is applied to thelower side of the rocking lifting-bar G and covered by a cast-metal clip or cap, t, which is secured in place by means of an encircling stirrup,j, and also by means of a bolt, k, the latter being passed through the cap, the end ofthe drag-bar, and therocking bar, as sh'own, and serving as a pivot upon which the dragbar can vibrate to a limited extent. The vibrations 01' the bar are limited in one direction by its contact with the lifting-bar G, and in the opposite direction by its contact with the inner face of the cap 1'. Fig. 1L represents a similar connection between the drag-bar and the lifting-bar, the only essential difference being that the forward end of the drag-bar is curved upward in front of the lifting-liar, and thence forward upon its upper surface, where it is secured by means of a cap or clip and bolts in the same manner as represented in Fig. 10, this connection also permitting, like that in the previous figure, a limited vibration of the drag-bar.

In Fig. 11 the hoe is represented as of the ordinary type with forwardly-extending lugs or ears 6, between which is pivoted a short bar, 1, the forward end of which is secured by a clip or coupling, Q, rigidly to the rear end of the elastic drag-bar F. The clip consists, as clearly represented in Figs. 11 and 12, of two equal parts arranged to embrace the edges of the bar F and the sides of the bar P, the two parts being united and clamped firmly upon the bars by means of a transverse bolt passing through them, as represented in Fig. 12. The elastic drag bar F is curved upward around the lifting-bar G, and bolted firmly to its upper side. The rear end of the elastic bar in this case is connected by a coupling, Q. with the forward end of the drag-bar or arm P, extending from the hoe. The coupling consists. as in the previous case, of two plates adapted to embrace the opposite edges of the elastic bar, and united and held thereto by means of a transverse bolt passing through them. This coupling differs from that illustrated in Fig. 12, however, in that its internal opening is enlarged vertically in order to permit the bar p to swing upon the bolt in to a limited extent.

In Fig. 15 the drag-bar, extending from the hoe, has its forward end mounted in a horizontal pivot within the vertical slotted end of a plate,,S, bolted firmly to the rock-bar.

In- Fig.16 a socket-plate, T, is secured to the upper side of the lifting-bar by means of a stirrup,j, and a bolt, 0. The forward end of the elastic drag-bar is inserted in this coupling, and secured by means of a horizontal pivot,p, leaving the bar free to vibrate vertically to a limited extent within the socket.

Figs. 17 and 18 represent a construction in which the elastic portion of the drag-bar is composed of two parallel curved wire or spring rods, the forward ends of which are pivoted in a socket,U, secured upon thcdrag-bar, while their rear ends are clamped rigidly to the forward end of the drag-bar proper by means of a two-part clamp, \V. The clamp is curved on its inner faces to receive the rear ends of the rods, which are united by means of transverse bolts Q, by which they are drawn together against the wire and the drag-bar, the rods being at the same time clamped directly against the faces of the bar. This coupling forms a secure and rigid connection between the elastic and non-elastic portions of the bar.

Instead of using two separate rods, a single rod,bentat the forward end into a U form,may be employed.

As regards the feature of permitting a limited motion or play between the hoe and the lifting-bar, the various loose joints described are equivalents of each other.

Passing next to the arrangement of the device for throwing the (lrivinggear into and out ofaction, attention is called particularlytoFigs. 2, 4, 5, and 6. As usual in this class of machines, a horizontal shaft, X, is extended lengthwise beneath the hopper for the purpose of operating all the feed-wheels or feeding devices. At one end the shaft is provided, as shown in Figs. 2 and 7, with a driving-pinion, t, which receives motion through a gear-wheel, u, from a wheel, e, mounted loosely upon and around the main axle B, as plainly represented in Fig. 4. The pinion u is mounted on a stud orjourual upon a plate, to, which latter is journaled upon a projecting boss or hub on the end of the box in which the main axle is supported, as

plainly represented in Figs. 4 and 5. This For the purpose of swinging the plate and retaining it in position it is provided with a forwardly-extending spring-arm, a, bolted firmly thereto, the forward end of this arm being connected by a link, I), to a crank-arm, c, which is in turn connected with one of the journals of the rocking lifting-bar G, as shownin Figs. 2, 4, and 6. The journal of the liftingbar is formed upon and integral with the sector-wheel I, and, as plainly represented in Fig. 6, extends outward through the supporting-box on the nude? sideof the frame. The outer end of the journal is united to the crank-arm by means of interlocking lugs,which compel them to turn together, and the two are prevented from separating by means of a transverse bolt, (1, extendingcentrally through them, as plainly represented in Figs. 2 and 6.

The result of the above arrangementis that as the rocking bar G-is swung downward, lowering the hoes to an operative position, the arm 0 is caused, through the link I) and arm a, to elevate the rear end plate, 20, and thereby throw the driving-gear it into gear with the pinion t of the feeding-shaft.

The reverse movement of the lifting-bar to elevate the hoes causes the plate to to be lowered and the driving-pinion u to'loe disconnected or thrown out of gear with the pinion I. The elasticity of the arm (tprevents the breakage of the parts in the event of the teeth of the wheel a striking against the ends of the teeth of pinion t, as they are brought together. it also permits the hoes to be raised or lowered to a limited extent while in action without interfering with the action of the driving-gear, inasmuch as the arm will yield and permit the hoes to be depressed after the driving-train is thrown into gear. Motion is imparted to the primary wheel a of the driving-' train from the main ground-wheel B, whichis mounted loosely upon theaxle by the-side ofthe gear, and provided with a clutch, or with shoulders on the inner end of its hub to engage with corresponding shoulders e upon the side of the gear-wheel, as represented in Fig.5.

in order to admit of the machine being adjusted to drill to any required depth without causing the elastic arm a to apply an exces-' sive strain to the gear, the link Z) of the shaft mechanism is slotted lengthwise, as shown in Figs. 4 and 6, and the pivot, by which the link is connected to the arm a, made adjustable lengthwise in the link. By this arrangement the position of the arm a with respect to the crank 0 may be varied as circumstances may require.

When devices for sewing grass-seed or for distributing fertilizers are employed,they will be driven from a second transverse shaft mounted upon or behind the hopper, and driven, as shown in Fig. 4, by a pinion,f ,engaging with the driving-pinion ton the feedshatt, as in existing machines.

Referring next to the surveying or indicating devices by which the quantity of land sown'is indicated, attention is called particularly to Figs. 2, 7, 8, and 9. The surveying or indicating mechanism is located mainly within the end of the main hopper D, on theinuer face of 8 its cast-iron end plate, as shown in Fig.7. The main shaft X, lying beneath the hopper, is provided at one end with a worm-wheel, g, which engages with the teeth ofa crown-wheel, h, mounted on the lower end of a vertical shaft, t". The shaft 6 is mounted in bearings, and provided on its upper end with a scrollwheehk, which in turn engages with the teeth of a pinion, Z. The pinion l is mounted on the inner end of a horizontal shaft, m, which is extended outward through a hole in the side of the hopper, and provided on the outer end with a pointer or index-hand, a, arranged to revolve overa suitably-graduated dial or-index plate on the outer face of the hopper. The pinion l is provided on its outer side face with a single tooth, 0, which engages once at each revolution of the pinion with the teeth ofa large wheel, 1), so that the latter is moved one tooth by each complete revolution of the pinion l. The large wheel 1) is provided with a horizontal shaft extending through the outer end of the hopper, and provided on the outer end with a pointer or index, r, which revolves over the face of a second dial on the outer face of the hopper. The gearing being properly proportioned and the dials suitably graduated in a manner familiar to those skilled in the art, the hands wilireceive from the feedsllafta positive motion and will indicate upon the dials the number of acres sown.

For conveniencein constructing theindicator mechanism, and to admit of the indicators being set at zero when required, the horizontal shaft n and the vertical shaft '5 are both mounted upon a detachable plate, s, (plainly represented in Fig. 9,) this plate being provided with bearings-for the shafts, and being secured in position by means of a horizontal thumb screw, t, inserted through the end plate of the hopper, as represented in Fig. 7. By loosening the screw t the plate 8 may be re leased, either entirely or to a snfficient extent to permit the gearing to be disconnected and adjusted by hand.

Returning now to the worm g, from which the registering mechanism receives motion, it will be seen on reference to Fig. 7 that it is provided with a tubular neck, a, surrounding the feed-shaft X, and extending through the I bearing in which said shaft is supported to the outer side, where a transverse key, '2), is passed through both the shaft and the sleeve, securing the two against end motion. The shaft X is preferably made, as represented in Fig. 8, with two longitudinal ribs--a construction which is well known in the art. These ribs serve to prevent the driving-pinion t from turning on the shaft, the end of the shaft being threaded, and provided with anut on the outer side of the shaft by which both the shaft and the pinion are held to their places.

Inasmuch as it is desirable to adjust the machine at one time for the attendant to ride upon the hopper and at another time for the attendant to walk behind the machine, the plate (I, to which the hand-lever is attached, is provided with two sorkets or recesses to receive the lever, standing in different radial lines, so that by shitting the lever from one to the other it may be caused to stand either in an upright position or in a back wa idly-extending position, as required.

The present invention is restricted to those matters and things which are specifically claimed herein, and as to all features which may be described and shown, but which are not claimed, the right is reserved to make the same the subject of separate patents.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 1. The combinationot' the main frame, the rocking axle, the ground-wheelsmounted loosely on the axle, the swinging lifting-bar G, provided with the drag-bars and gear-wheels, the co-operating gears secured rigidly to the axle, and the hand-lever, also secured to the axle.

2. The rocking bar having the drag-bars and gear-wheels attached, in combination with the transverse shaft provided with the gear-wheels and hand-lever, whereby the drag-bars may be raisedand lowered with a positive action.

3. In a grain -'drill or seeder. the (-ou|bina tion of a wheeled frame, a rocking lifting-bar and means for operating the same, and the drag bars connected with the lifting bar through the medium of joints or couplings, constructed substantially as described, to allow a limited rising-and-falling motion of the drag-bars independently of the lifting'bar.

t. In a grain-diill or seeder, a wheeled main frame, a rocking lifting-bar, and means for controlling the same attached thereto, in combination with a series of drag-bars or beams and coupling-joints, substantially as shown, coir necting the forward ends of said drag-bars to the lifting-bar and permitting alimited vertical play between the two.

5. In a grain-drill or seeder, a wheeled main frame provided with the rocking or rolling lifting-bar and means for locking the same, a dragbar provided with a hoe or shovel, a flaring socket connecting the end of the drag-bar to the rocking bar, and a bolt passed through the socketand drag-bar, substantially as shown, whereby a limited vertical play of the dragbar is permitted.

67 In combination with the flexible and inflexible portions of the drag-bars, the couplings consisting of the two side plates, Q, embracingthe two parts, and the transverse connecting bolts, whereby the plates are drawn toward each other.

7. The combination of the drag-bar sections, the plates Q, having the rear portion of the bar movable vertically between them, and the transverse bolt serving both as a means of holding the plates together and as a pivot for the rear section of the bar.

8. Iircombina-tion with the feed-shaft X and the registering or surveying mechanism, the worm-wheel 9, provided with the tubular neck extended around the shaft and through the shaft-bearing, and the pin passing through both the neck and shaft, as shown.

9. The surveying or indicating mechanism, attached rigidly to the machine and provided with the readily-detachable plate having a portion of the gear-train mounted thereon.

10. In combination with the feed-shaft and the hopper end, provided with the dial -faces, the worm on the shaft, the wheels h, k, Z, and p. and their shafts, as shown.

11.. In a graiirdrill, a plate, substantially as shown, constructed to serve as the end of the seed-hopper, and having formed upon its outer surface a graduated dial indicating the amount of grain distributed, whereby said plate is caused to serve a twofold purpose.

CHARLES OTIS GARDINER.

O. U. KIRKPATRICK, H. S. FoLGEn. 

